Cancer Research - Europa

Expected results
• Establishment of a large database including sequences
of idiotypic VH and VL genes expressed by a variety
of lympho-proliferative disorders, including low grade
B-NHL, autoimmunity-associated lympho-proliferations,
and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This will allow the
identifi cation of candidate Id proteins for ‘cross-reactive’
immunotherapy.
• Pre-clinical characterisation of the immunogenicity of
selected natural Id proteins, with particular regard
to their ability to induce immune responses against
lymphoma cells expressing molecularly correlated Id
proteins. The characterisation will include the identification
of B cell epitopes and HLA Class I-restricted
cytotoxic T cell epitopes using innovative approaches
and will allow the development of dedicated assays for
immunomonitoring.
• Design and validation of optimised Id vaccines.
• Evaluation and validation of new adjuvants and innovative
delivery systems for improved Id vaccine formulations
and administration.
• ‘Clinical-grade’ production and purifi cation of optimised
Id proteins for patient vaccination.
The SMEs are an integral part in the project in making the
new diagnostic and therapeutic tools available, not only for
Europe but also for the world market. The close integration
between clinical and research activities at several university
hospitals and cancer centres with the SMEs will form new
centres of excellence where European SMEs will benefi t
from close collaboration, at the same time as new diagnostic
and therapeutic products will be developed to the
benefi t of patients with lymphoid malignancies.
Potential applications
The results obtained in the present project will allow the
design and activation of phase I/II clinical trials aimed at
validating the use of optimised, pre-made vaccines for the
treatment of a relatively broad spectrum of lymphoid malignancies.
The proposed Id vaccination may be benefi cial also
for patients with pre-neoplastic B-cell lymphoproliferations,
such as mixed cryoglobulinaemia. These vaccines, in fact,
may be used with the purpose of alleviating symptoms and,
ultimately, preventing a possible evolution towards an overt
B cell malignancy. Once validated as drugs, the vaccines will
have the advantage of being easily distributed to all hematology
and oncology departments, including those of
peripheral hospitals/universities. Thus, results obtained in
the present project will have an important strategic impact
in solving, at least in part, the dramatic social and health
problem represented by NHL.
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Flow chart, outlining the main expected results, leading from identifi cation of shared idiotypes
to the development of optimized vaccines for the treatment of B-cell lymphoproliferations.
CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME